You are here:Home>New Canadian "enhanced" driver's licenses for US border entry

New Canadian "enhanced" driver's licenses for US border entry

New driver’s licenses for US entry

Last month, British Colombia was the first of the provinces to bring out the “Enhanced” driver’s license. This license acts as a substitute for passports when entering into the US via land or water (you still require a passport at the airport).

So far these licenses are only in beta format (testing) with 500 of these licenses issued to Canadian citizens born in BC. However, if the program is deemed successful, Canadian citizens with valid driver’s licenses will be issued these new licenses throughout BC. Quebec has also just revealed they are also interested in developing this technology, joined by Manitoba and Ontario, where new legislation has been passed to create these high tech licenses. Quebec’s new “Smart” license also known as the “RFID Driver’s License” will allow Quebecois to enter the U.S. via land or water.

“Enhanced” driver’s license provides US border officials with more information

This enhanced driver’s license contains a radio frequency identification chip that when scanned, provides border officials with a special code. The officer can then punch the code into a computer to search a database for information about the cardholder. The information will include the same details contained on a passport such as address, birth date and name thus being able to verify the cardholder as a Canadian citizen.

This new “border-friendly” license having a code rather than explicit personal details, will help protect the privacy of individuals who sign up for the license. Further, it may speed up wait times at the Canada-US borders.As of June 1, 2009, this license will be considered a valid document under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) which is a U.S. law that requires Canadian Citizens to present a passport OR the new “smart” license in lieu of a passport along with other approved documents such as the Nexus Card. It will be valid for four years and in order to qualify it may be the case that you will have to prove your Canadian citizenship and have no criminal record.

We will see what the exact conditions are when the new enhanced license is ready for circulation.

Ontario is expected to unveil its own “smart license” some point in early spring. But until this happens, it is important that you have all the necessary documentation with you before attempting to enter the US.Denied Entry to the US? Call Niren and Associates Immigration Lawyers in Toronto for assistance at 416 410 7484.

Oops! We could not locate your form.

Any information provided here does not constitute legal advice and is intended for general information only. Should you require legal advise, you are encouraged to contact a lawyer directly. All blog postings are public and are not subject to solicitor/client confidentially. Case results depend on a variety of factors unique to each case, and case results do not guarantee or predict a similar result in any further case undertaken by the lawyer.

About Fadi Minawi

Fadi is a graduate of the University of Toronto and the University of Toledo College of Law. He is called to the New York State Bar and is registered as a Foreign Legal Consultant with the Law Society of Upper Canada. He is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and is currently serving as the Media Liaison for the Canadian Chapter of AILA. Fadi has extensive experience in US immigration matters and is the firm’s lead in the area of US immigration. He is specialized in corporate and family immigration, as well as issues dealing with US inadmissibility.

*Michael H. Niren Professional Corporation. Niren and Associates was established in 1997 and has grown with offices throughout Canada and the US. Our main corporate office is in Toronto, ON Canada and is where we process most our clients immigration applications.

Our resources and infrastructure are therefore vast so there is nothing we can not handle. We have the people and the expertise to address and resolve almost any immigration and visa problem.

Often when immigration law firms are too small, there simply is not enough resources available to handle your case in a timely and cost effective manner. At our Toronto Immigration Law Firm, we have established and proven Canadian & US immigration systems in place managed by trained professionals and trained lawyers who know how to bring your case to its conclusion in the most efficient manner possible.